It's hard to remember sometimes that when the festival started, Italy was a Fascist country. That didn't come much into play until 1938, when Joseph Goebbels became an annual fixture. Here he shakes hands with the Italian actress Elli Parvo at the presence of the Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Pavolini during the 9th Venice International Film Festival. Venice, 2nd September 1941.

Photo: Mondadori, Mondadori Via Getty Images

It's hard to remember sometimes that when the festival started,...

It's hard to remember sometimes that when the festival... Photo-6778294.92368 - SFGate

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American actor Gene Tierney (1920 - 1991), wearing a lace top, sits next to French director Jean Renoir (1894 - 1979), as they look over the preview of the program for the annual Venice Film Festival, Italy. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

1950: American writer Richard Wright (1908 - 1960) in Venice for the screening of director Pierre Chenal's film, 'Native Son,' at the Venice Film Festival, Italy, 1950. Wright starred in the film, which was adapted from his novel. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

French actress Francoise Arnoul and Italian actress Giulietta Masina posing among the pigeons in San Marco square during the 16th Venice International Film Festival. Venice, September 1955 (Photo by Mario De Biasi/Carlo BavagnoliMondadori Portfolio by Getty Images)

British actress Olivia de Havilland with her husband, French journalist Pierre Galante, on board, during the 16th Venice International Film Festival. Venice (Italy), 1955. (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Photo: Mondadori, Mondadori Via Getty Images

British actress Olivia de Havilland with her husband, French...

British actress Olivia de Havilland with her husband, French... Photo-6778301.92368 - SFGate

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British actress, Diana Dors wearing a mink bikini and riding in a Gondola by St. Mark's Square, Venice during the Venice film festival. (Photo by Horace Abrahams/Keystone/Getty Images)

The actress Gina Lollobrigida on the seashore, her feet in the water, during the 17th Venice Intenational Film Festival. Venice (Italy), 1956. (Photo by Emilio Ronchini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Photo: Mondadori, Mondadori Via Getty Images

The actress Gina Lollobrigida on the seashore, her feet in the...

The actress Gina Lollobrigida on the seashore, her feet in the... Photo-6778304.92368 - SFGate

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The actor James Mason on boat, in the course of the 17th Venice Intenational Film Festival. Venice (Italy), 1956. (Photo by Emilio Ronchini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Photo: Mondadori, Mondadori Via Getty Images

The actor James Mason on boat, in the course of the 17th Venice...

The actor James Mason on boat, in the course of the 17th Venice... Photo-6778305.92368 - SFGate

Salvador DALI, accompanied by his wife Gala, entering the screening room for the film premiere of LE GARDE DU CORPS, by the Japanese director Akira KUROSAWA, during the International Film Festival of Venice, on August 21, 1961. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

Photo: Keystone-France, Gamma-Keystone Via Getty Images

Salvador DALI, accompanied by his wife Gala, entering the screening...

American actor Paul Newman, wearing a tuxedo and a bow tie, portrayed during a trip on a water taxi, a sailor cap on the dashboard, St. Mark Square in the background, Venice 1963. (Photo by Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images)

The French Film-Maker Jean-Luc Godard And The French Actress Macha Meryl Present The Film Une Femme Mariee At The Venice Film Festival In September 1964. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

Photo: Keystone-France, Gamma-Keystone Via Getty Images

The French Film-Maker Jean-Luc Godard And The French Actress Macha...

The French Film-Maker Jean-Luc Godard And The French Actress Macha... Photo-6778314.92368 - SFGate

The Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni carries under his arm and closed in a box the Golden Lion lifetime achievement award, received at the 40th edition of the Venice Film Festival. Venice (Italy), September 1983. That's what it all comes down to. Pour everything into your work, and the best you can hope for is to wind up alone, carrying a red box and waiting for the boat to show up.

French actor Olivier Martinez poses with his fiancee, US actress Mira Sorvino, before the projection of "The triumph of love", in comptetition at the 58 th International Film Festival, organized by Venice's Biennale, 05 September 2001. (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS, AFP/Getty Images

French actor Olivier Martinez poses with his fiancee, US actress...

French actor Olivier Martinez poses with his fiancee, US actress... Photo-6778327.92368 - SFGate

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Catherine Deneuve, arrives for the screening of the Tonie Marshall's film "Au plus pres du paradis" at the 59th Venice Film Festival August 31, 2002 in Venice, Italy.

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

Catherine Deneuve, arrives for the screening of the Tonie...

Catherine Deneuve, arrives for the screening of the Tonie... Photo-6778328.92368 - SFGate

Director Patrice Leconte, French actor and music star Johnny Hallyday and his wife Laeticia arrive at the Lido during the 59th Venice Film Festival September 2, 2002 in Venice, Italy. Hallyday is in Venice to present the Todd Haynes's film "L'homme Du Train" which is in competition at the festival. The annual Venice Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious cinema events in Europe. The ten day event traditionally sponsors non-Hollywood films and awards the Golden Lion as its top prize. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Actress Christina Ricci (R) waves to photographers as she arrives at Venice Lido with actor Jason Biggs 26 August 2003. Ricci and Biggs are in Venice to present the Woody Allen's out of competition movie " Anything Else " to open the 60th international Venice Film Festival on 27 August.

Actress Reese Witherspoon and actor James Purefoy arrive by boat for the "Vanity Fair" Photocall at the 61st Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2004 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Angelina Jolie arrives in Venice St. Marco square to present the world premiere of the animation film 'Shark Tale', shown out of competition, at the 61st Venice Film Festival in Venice, 10 September 2004.

George Clooney and Patricia Clarkson during 2005 Venice Film Festival - George Clooney. You could make a gallery of Clooney Venice pictures -- they can't keep that guy away, and he always seems to be having a great time.

Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons during 2005 Venice Film Festival "Casanova" Premiere, inside at Palazzo del Cinema in Venice Lido, Italy. The stars sit in the front row of the second tier so everyone can see them, and if people don't like the movie, they boo anyway.

Monica Bellucci during 2005 Venice Film Festival - Sightings at Des Bain Hotel at Des Bain Hotel in Venice, Italy. Before the hotel's closure, the quarter-mile between the hotel and the festival grounds was a familiar spot to see movie stars. It was too close to drive, so they walked.

Bob Hoskins and Diane Lane during The 63rd International Venice... Photo-6778351.92368 - SFGate

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Actress Isabelle Carre arrives to attend the photocall to promote the film 'Private Fears In Public Places' during the fourth day of the 63rd Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2006 in Venice, Italy. It's a good movie, never released here.

Catalina Sandino Moreno during The 63rd International Venice Film Festival - "The Hottest State" Premiere. I road in the boat from the airport with this young lady and knew that I recognized her from somewhere.

Helen Mirren during the 2006 festivalo, where "The Queen" was the talk of the town.

Photo: George Pimentel, WireImage

Helen Mirren during the 2006 festivalo, where "The Queen" was the...

Helen Mirren during the 2006 festivalo, where "The Queen"... Photo-6778354.92368 - SFGate

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IWoody Allen arrives at the 60th Venice Film Festival with his wife Soon Ji and their two daughters to present his new film "CASSANDRA'S DREAM" at the opening ceremony in Venice, Italy on August 27th, 2007.

Photo: Eric VANDEVILLE, Gamma-Rapho Via Getty Images

IWoody Allen arrives at the 60th Venice Film Festival with his wife...

IWoody Allen arrives at the 60th Venice Film Festival with his wife... Photo-6778355.92368 - SFGate

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James McAvoy arrives in Venice during day 2 of the 64th Venice Film Festival on August 30, 2007 in Venice, Italy.

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

James McAvoy arrives in Venice during day 2 of the 64th Venice Film...

James McAvoy arrives in Venice during day 2 of the 64th Venice Film... Photo-6778356.92368 - SFGate

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Jude Law and Michael Caine are seen in Venice during day 4 of the 64th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2007 in Venice, Italy. The next day the weather turned and it was cold and rainy for the rest of the festival.

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

Jude Law and Michael Caine are seen in Venice during day 4 of the...

Jude Law and Michael Caine are seen in Venice during day 4 of the... Photo-6778357.92368 - SFGate

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Brad Pitt arrives by boat ahead of the The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Photocall on the Day 5 of the 64th Annual Venice Film Festival.

Photo: Venturelli, WireImage

Brad Pitt arrives by boat ahead of the The Assassination of Jesse...

Brad Pitt arrives by boat ahead of the The Assassination of Jesse... Photo-6778358.92368 - SFGate

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Italian actress Valeria Cavalli, French director Claude Chabrol and French actress Ludivine Sagnier pose during a photocall for the movie "La fille coupée en deux" at Venice Lido 02 September 2007. I road with Chaborl in the boat from the airport a couple of days before.

Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood pose as they arrive at the 65th Venice International Film Festival at Venice Lido, on September 3, 2008. At the time, nobody thought "The Wrestler"was going to be anything.

Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI, AFP/Getty Images

Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood pose as they arrive at the 65th...

Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood pose as they arrive at the 65th... Photo-6778366.92368 - SFGate

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Director Kathryn Bigelow, scriptwriter Mark Boal and actors Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner and Brian Geraghty attend the Hurt Locker film premiere at the Sala Grande during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2008 in Venice, Italy. This was another surprise. The top movies usually debut early in the festival lineup. This came several days in and surprised everybody.

Sylvester Stallone arrives at the 66th Venice Film Festival In Venice, Italy On September 12, 2009 - 'Rambo' (director's cut) was presented at the end of the festival and Stallone received the 'Jaeger-Lecoultre glory to the filmmaker' award.

Actor Willem Dafoe and director Giada Colagrande attend the "A Woman - Bassa Marea" premiere at the Palazzo del Casino during the 67th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2010 in Venice, Italy.

He can't get enough of Italy: George Clooney smiles from a motorboat as he arrives in Venice on the eve of the opening of the 68th Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2011. "The Ides of March" written and directed by Clooney opened the festival.

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

He can't get enough of Italy: George Clooney smiles from a...

He can't get enough of Italy: George Clooney smiles from a... Photo-6778378.92368 - SFGate

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Diane Kruger arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of "The Ides of March" during the 68th Venice International Film Festival on August 31 , 2011.

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman with the Coppa Volpi award for Best Actor for the film "The Master" on stage during the Award Ceremony at the 69th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Cinema on September 8, 2012 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Photo: Ian Gavan, Getty Images

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman with the Coppa Volpi award for Best...

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman with the Coppa Volpi award for Best... Photo-6778387.92368 - SFGate

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Sandra Bullock (R) and son Louis Bardo Bullock is seen during the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 27, 2013 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic)

Photo: Jacopo Raule, FilmMagic

Sandra Bullock (R) and son Louis Bardo Bullock is seen during the...

Sandra Bullock (R) and son Louis Bardo Bullock is seen during the... Photo-6778388.92368 - SFGate

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He's back again: George Clooney shakes hand with a fan from aboard of a taxi boat in the Venice canal grande upon his arrival on August 27, 2013. Clooney was in Venice to present the movie " Gravity."

Scarlett Johansson attends 'Under The Skin' Premiere during the 70th Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 3, 2013 in Venice, Italy. I was about 50 yards away. Amazing how normal things look in life and how glamorous the same things look in photos.